Can we trust Joemat-Pettersson with nuclear energy?

Jeffreys Bay residents, whether they support the proposed development of a nuclear power plant at Thyspunt or whether they oppose it, can all be highly concerned with the appointment of Tina Joemat-Pettersson as the new Minister of Energy.

Will Tina Joemat-Pettersson be able to keep the lights on?

After a dismal performance as the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), Joemat-Pettersson has been promoted to the crucial ministry of Energy which is tasked with overseeing an energy build programme that will exceed R1 trillion, far more than any other infrastructure build programme that South Africa will be embarking upon.

As DAFF Minister, Joemat-Pettersson was generally ineffective. She was implicated in a damning report in which the Public Protector, Adv Thuli Madonsela, found irregularities in the awarding of the R 800 million Sekunjalo tender.

Crucially, the Minister was also responsible for the bungling of DAFF’s Fishing Rights Allocation Process that has left thousands of previous fishing rights holders unemployed and without the ability to provide for their families.

Instead of being fired, Minister Joemat-Pettersson has been rewarded for her long-standing loyalty to President Zuma.

The President has essentially placed a fox in a hen-house by entrusting this Minister with trillions of public money.

If we could not trust Minister Joemat-Petterson to issue fishing licences, how can we be expected to trust her with keeping South Africa’s lights on?

Can we trust her with spending over R 200 billion on a nuclear power station at Thyspunt without any corruption taking place?

A minister whose tenure in government has been marred with corruption and gross incompetence should be fired.

“We will monitor Minister Joemat-Pettersson very closely and do everything in our power to ensure that she does not plunge this department into darkness,” said Lance Greyling from the DA.